Giuseppe Allamano
A humble Turin priest whose founding of the Consolata missionaries sparked a global network of Catholic evangelization spanning continents.
1851–1926 (age 75)·Italian Catholic priest·Birthday: January 21
Biography
Giuseppe Allamano’s life was centered on a single Turin shrine, but his vision stretched to the ends of the earth. As the long-time rector of the Sanctuary of the Consolata, he nurtured a deep devotion to Mary, but felt a restless call to share this faith beyond Italy's borders. With pragmatic piety, he first founded the Consolata Missionaries for men in 1901, followed by a sister order for women in 1910. His instruction was simple yet demanding: 'First be saints, then missionaries.' He sent his first priests to Kenya, launching a missionary enterprise that would grow to cover Africa and the Americas. Allamano was not a globe-trotter; he was a spiritual strategist and father, managing logistics, fundraising, and offering unwavering support from his Turin office. His canonization in 2024 affirmed the lasting impact of his quiet, determined work, which transformed a local shrine into a powerhouse of global Catholic mission.
#1 When Giuseppe Was Born
The biggest hits of 1851
Giuseppe's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1851Born
1856Started school
1864Became a teenager
President: Abraham Lincoln
1867Could drive
President: Andrew Johnson
1869Could vote
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1872Turned 21
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1881Turned 30
President: Chester A. Arthur
1891Turned 40
President: Benjamin Harrison
1901Turned 50
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1911Turned 60
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1921Turned 70
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1926Died at 75
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
Key Achievements
- Founded the Consolata Missionaries (IMC), a major Catholic missionary society for men, in 1901.
- Co-founded the Consolata Missionary Sisters, a parallel religious institute for women, in 1910.
- Launched the first Consolata mission to Kenya in 1902, establishing a lasting presence in Africa.
- Served as rector of the Sanctuary of the Consolata in Turin for over 45 years, revitalizing it as a spiritual center.
Did You Know?
He was the nephew of another famous Italian saint, Joseph Cafasso, who was his spiritual director.
He was canonized by Pope Francis in a ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica on October 20, 2024.
He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1990.
During World War I, he organized assistance for soldiers and families from his mission house.
“First be saints, then missionaries.”
